Never Before Revealed Business Secrets

Some business people just don't get it.

On three different occasions, over the past few days, I've been asked about strategies to increase business revenue. Each time, I give them my routine answer, which is to ensure that they know their target market before investing a dime in marketing.

In addition, I tell them to know their budget and ensure that they maximize each dollar spent.

One example is a client who wants to do a direct marketing piece to increase sales from her web site. The traditional thing to do is either purchase a targeted list, or build a list yourself, create the proper message on the postcard (if a postcard is used), and ensure that the message is appropriate to your target market.

However, doing this is just one part of the equation.

In order to maximize your expense in any marketing endeavor, you must be ready to NOT just try and sell a product, you must me able to somehow capture the name, email, and mailing address of all targeted prospective customers.

If you send out 5,000 postcards, for instance, once they're mailed, the recipient has two choices...

1) ignore your message (which 98-100% of people do)
2) buy from you (only 0 - 2% on average buy)

What if you give them a third option. Why not have them say "maybe". Better yet, what if they say "maybe" and they tell you who they are and ask you to send them something so that they can be approached on a different occasion.

Wouldn't option number 3 be worth your while? I mean, you've already spent all that money on design, printing, lists, and mailing. It's not costing you anything extra to have them say "maybe", instead of "NO".

So how do you do it? Simple...make them an offer of something of value to them that is FREE to them. But here's the thing; the free "thing" must me something that has to do with your product or service.

Don't make the mistake of offering an electronic device such as a PDA, if you're selling shoes. A better offer would be a free shoe horn, or shoe comfort sole, or leather treatment (if leather shoes), or anything related to the item in question.

The best product to offer is an information product because it is something that everyone likes, and it's something that is easy to distribute, and in most cases, free for you to distribute.

The best part about using information digital products, is that you can automate the entire process using such services as www.AutomaticEcommerce.com. This system allows you to allow the recipient to give you their information, in exchange for the information you provide.

The best part is that the process is fully automated once it's set up the first time.

If you send out a postcard to 5,000 people or business owners in your target market, and make an offer to "Learn the 3 Secret Pleasure Points on Your Feet, that Will make You Feel Good All Day" and invite them to download it from your web site, you will get more people visiting your site and requesting your information.

Simply create a series of email messages with more important "secrets" that will keep them coming back to your web site for more, and perhaps even buying from you now that you've developed a relationship with them.

Using a system like www.AutomaticEcommerce.com will allow you to handle the entire process, hands-free.

The moral of the story is...give them the option to buy from you tomorrow, not just today.

Until my next post...

Edison R. Guzman
www.aeAdvertising.com
www.AutomaticEcommerce.com
www.FreshContentEveryMonth.com
www.aeDomains.com

Business Life

Hello!

If you're reading this, you're about to learn a few things about business life as an entrepreneur.

First off, let's get to know me a little by checking out my bio. It pretty much sets the tone as to where I'm coming from.

Second, anything you read on this blog is purely my opinion. I will try and back up anything I say with facts, and proof when necessary...but the main thing here is that my opinion is usually based on my experience.

I'm one of those people that tell you how things are, whether you'd like to hear it or not. I try not to hurt people's feelings with my comments, but life is too short and it's a shame when you can't simply say what's on your mind because some one's feeling may be hurt.

Although I'm a straight shooter, I'm also not a cold, heartless animal. I have my limits and will try to be politically correct when addressing certain issues.

Lastly, I'd like to say that business life does not have to be as difficult as many people make it out to be. Business life is a process. If you have the right system in place, with the right plan to follow, and a good team to bounce ideas from...you should do very well.

Whatever you do, don't take any one's word for everything you read, hear or see. You should be able to challenge what you learn in order to make it work for you. By the same token, don't defy everything you learn either.

Always question, but use common sense. If someone says, "My business tripled in revenue in under a year...and yours can too," you should be skeptical, but hear out the plan before making a final decision on whether you will implement any, all or none of the strategies presented to you. Check the source of who is giving you this information. Is it a good and reliable source? Or is it someone trying to sell you on an idea that has never been truly tested and proven to work.

I'll be completely honest with you. As a small business owner, I've made many mistakes along the way. I've trusted many partners, and invested many hours, days and months in projects that went no where. It is because of this experience, that I can also say that I have enjoyed many partnerships, and have generated enough income to allow me to lead a life that I could only imagine a short 20 years ago.

I am still in the trenches, and above all, love to "expand the minds of others."

I hope that these postings will enable you to lead a more profitable, and happy business life.

Until my next post...

Edison R. Guzman
www.aeAdvertising.com
www.AutomaticEcommerce.com
www.FreshContentEveryMonth.com
www.aeDomains.com